Clifton, Virginia

This is an out-and-back trail that starts and ends on different roads, but you will have better luck parking on Albemarle Street NW (where I have indicated the trailhead is on the map). This is a long street with plenty of street parking, just pay attention to the signs to see how long you can le...

Everyone has so many things on their plates these days that take all their time up. It is hard to get away for adventures or to experience new things. The National Mall in Washington D.C. is within an hour from millions of people on the East Coast. This centralized location makes the National Mal...

Red Rock Wilderness Overlook provides 60+ acres of trails to explore right in Leesburg, Virginia. The site is home to some ruins and buildings from the late 1800's and is a wonderful spot for picnics, hiking, trail running, and geocaching.The preferable loop is to take the trail that leads straig...

The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are a unique spot in Washington, D.C. The grounds are full of ponds, boardwalks, and a trail that connects you to the Anacostia River Trail. The main draw of this park are the ponds full of lotus flowers. During the summer months, they grow tall with colors ranging ...

Park in the lot on Whites Ferry road and hop on the Chesapeake Ohio towpath. This is an out-and-back so you can make it as short as you want or up to 10 miles. Great for familes and dog friendly!

Park at the Meadowside Nature Center to Access the trailhead. This is a 3.4 mile loop with opportunities for birding and observing wildlife. Dogs are welcome on leash. 

Park on Clarksburg Road (see map) and head onto the marked trail. It can get muddy at times so pack accordingly. Great for kids, and dog friendly too. 

The Black Hill Regional Park has 1300 acres of oak forests that have views of the Little Seneca Lake. This lake offers a place for visitors to canoe and stand up paddle board.  This trail is open to hiking and mountain biking. In addition, dogs are welcome to use the trail but must be on leash a...

Park in the lot off of Watkins Mill Road to access the trail. This hike is dog friendly and is accessible from March until November. 

This leisurely hike starts at the Old Mill at Waterford in Waterford, Virginia. You can find parking along the side of the road right near the mill.  As you walk down and past the mill you'll see a fence and the beginning of the trail. This is a short, 1 mile hike and almost completely flat. If y...

Park on Sugarloaf Mountain Drive (as indicated on the map below) to access the trail. It is open from March-November and is dog friendly. 

This hike will start on the Appalachian Trail and will take you to a beautiful set of falls.  When you arrive at the location you will see numerous spots along the side of the road to park. You'll need to look for the white blaze for the Appalachian Trail (it will head up from the parking area). ...

Bears Den is a collection of rocks and boulders that overlooks the Shenandoah Valley in northern Virginia, just off the Appalachian Trail. You have two options to access this overlook: park at the bottom of the mountain and hike up to the overlook via the trail, or drive to the top and access the...

Starting at a small parking lot right off of Route 7 (wuick right onto Pine Grove Road) this hike takes you North on the Appalachian Trail in a very hilly/rocky part of the trail. Expect to gain and lose 300 feet+ multiple times! It's about 2.5 miles each way so budget at least a few hours to go ...

In just a .61 mile trail, Piedmont Overlook has so much to offer in terms of views and although it is fairly steep, anyone can do it!  After arriving at Sky Meadows State Park start heading up to the white park office building, this is where the trail begins. To get to the trail head follow Bosto...

Camping at Sky Meadows State Park is a great location to backpack with young kids or if you are new to backpacking. The campground has 18 primitive walk-in campsites located 1.03 miles from the overnight parking lot at the park entrance. Reservations can be made online. After checking-in and park...